Lid-prop-locking hinge



June 29 1926.

V. H BROWN LID PROP LOCKING HINGE Filed Oct 9, 1925 Patented June 29, 1926 UNITED STATES VINSON H. BROWN, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

LID-PROP-LOCKING HINGE.

Application filed October 9, 1925. Serial No. 61,518.

This invention has for its object the provision of means for propping and locking the lid of a cabinet in an open position and against movement beyond such position.

The device of my invention is especially designed andadapted for use in connection with the lid of those upright pianos where the lid is in one piece and where the lid is hinged near the rear portion of the top of the cabinet or box of the instrument.

In showing a piano at the salesroom, it is the custom of salesmen to open the lid to show the customer the action, and as pianos in a sales-room are seldom in a position in which the lid can be opened and rested against the wall, it is necessary for the salesmen to hold the lid in an open position. In tuning an upright piano, it is also necessary to open the lid and many times the piano is either tooclose to a wall, or there is a picture or some other obstruction rendering it necessary to adjust or move the piano into such a position that a rest can be obtained against which the opened lid may abut.

Now it is an object of this invention to provide a device for not only propping a lid into-the desired degree of open position, but also, to lock or hold the lid against movement beyond or backwardly from the position to which it has been opened.

In an upright piano, and in many other forms of cabinets like console phonographs, there is an interior structure that is disposed very closely to the lid when the latter is in a closed position. In an upright piano, this structure is the pin board, or block.

Now it is an object of this invention to provide a device that may readily be ap plied to an upright piano, without requiring any change in the construction thereof, and p which can be compactly disposed, when not functioning, in a manner to avoid an interference with closing of the lid of this particular class of cabinets.

My invention has many other features and objects which will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawing, and which will be moreparticularly pointed out in and by the appended claims.

In the drawing 7 Fig. 1, is a view, partly in section. and

partly in'elevation, illustrating the applica- I means of screws-11, the leaf being recessed tion of the device of my invention to thetop and lid of an upright piano, with the lid propped and locked in an open position.

Fig. 2, illustrates the compact disposition of the device when the lid is closed.

Fig. 3, is an enlarged view looking from Like characters of reference designate similar parts throughout the different figures of the drawing.

, Although the device of my invention is not limited in use to a piano, I will describe it as applied thereto in order to illustrate one of its advantageous utilities, the following description and illustration being directed to an upright piano with a one piece lid.

As illustrated, the back wall is indicated at l, the end walls at 2 and 3, and the front wall at 4. The pin block or board is shown at 5,-as extending lengthwise of the rear portion of the piano, the top 6, of the block being substantially flush with the top of walls 1 to 4. In the claims, I will refer to this pin block as an interior structure extending close to the lid when the latter is .closed. I have shown a one piece lid 7, the

same having the usual overhanging flange 8, at the front and sides of the piano body. It isthe practice, in plano manufacture, to

employ rubber studs, as shown at 9, to pre vent the lid from com ng in actual contact Wltll the piano bOX edges, leaving a space between the lid 7, and said edges. It is therefore usual to hinge the lid 7, so that the rear edge of the lid will be horizontal with the front edge, hence, the hinges are generally disposed in a manner to bring the of the pintle, substantially on a level with the top of the piano body, as is herein I shown. Y

Next referring to the device of my invention, it maybe stated that the same is herein shown as a hinge that may supplement the usual hinges or elongated hinge, and while I have shown my hinge device disposed near one end of the lid, I do not wish to be limited tolthis disposition.

My device comprises a hinge having a leaf .10, which is shown recessed into the top structure, and secured thereto as by in the piano top to dispose the axis of the pintle in the relation heretofore described. This leaf 10, 'for future reference, will be termed the fixed leaf. The device also includes a leaf 12, which may be secured to the lower face of lid 7, by means of screws 13, and this will be hereinafter termed the lid leaf. These leaves 10 and 12, may have the usual knuckles 14 and 15, respectively, through which a pintle 16, extends. Because of the greater load which it is called upon to sustain, the knuckle joining leaves 10 and 12, will hereinafter be called the main knuckle.

A prop leaf 17, is joined to one of the companion leaves hereinbefore described, and as shown, leaf 12, preferably at the free or upper end thereof. Leaves 12 and 17, have knuckles 18 and 19, joined by a pintle 20. It will be seen that the knuckle joining leaves 12 and 17, is smaller in diameter than the maiii'knuckle, audit will therefore be termed the minor knuckle. Said prop leaf 17 is shown tapering from its knuckle end toward its free end Fig. 3) and the terminal of said leaf is ent at 21, to form a combined lid prop and locking lug 22.

The interior structure is recessed adjacent the outer end of leaf 10, in a manner to expose an edge portion 23, thereof, and this recess is formed to provide'a prop shoulder 24. In practice, the recess extends subjacent the end of leaf 10, as clearly shown in Fig. '1, topr'ovide room for projection of lug 22 into subjace'nt'relation to'the exposed portion of the end of leaf 10. The lower or outer face 25, of said lug 22, is adapted to abut against shoulder 24, and the inner face 26, is adapted to coact with leaf 10.

I will next describe the operation of my device.

When lid 7, is being elevated from the closed position shown in Fig. 2, toward the propped position shown in Fig. 1, the prop leaf 17 will slide along top 6, until it reaches shoulder 24-, whereupon, the lug 22, will drop by gravity, and wholly automatically, into the position shown in Fig. 1. The lid 7, is not opened so far but that its tendency will be to close, by gravity, and the weight of the lid 7, urges face 25, of lug 22, against shoulder 24. If the lid 7, for any cause or reason partook of a movement beyond or back from that shown, then face 26, of lug 22, would coact with the exposed edge 23, to prevent such movement of the lid. Likewise, edge 23, coacts with leaf 17, to support the latter in the position shown in Fig. 1, and thus prevents lug 22, from descending further than shown. It will be noted that the lid'7, is so nearly vertical, that the major weight when open, Will be borne by the main knuckle, which is the largest and strongest.

lVhen the lid 7, is to be lowered, the leaf .17 is lifted, manually, out of engagement with shoulder 24, and allowed to ride freely on top 6, in the extended position shown in Fig. 2, until the lid is closed. It will now be seen that by'making the prop knuckle of smaller diameter than the main knuckle, it will fit between the lid 7 and top 6, and permit the front of the lid to rest on button 9. Lug 22, is also suitably short so that it will lie between top 6 and lid 7, and as shown, substantially in the plane of leaf 12, and in projecting relation therefrom.

It will now be clear that I have devised, in a unitary hinge structure, a device that can be applied to cabinetsof this general character without requiring structural alteration from present standards in order to accommodate the same. It will also be noted that the prop leaf is hingedly connected with one of the companion leaves of the major hinge, and coacts with the remaining of said companion leaves. It willalso be noted that opposing faces'of lug 22, coacts with opposing shoulders, one of which may be one of said companion leaves.

It is believed that it will now be clear that my invention resides in the combination set forth, and also in the unitary hinge device as an article of manufacture, and" while'I have herein shown and'described one specific form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim 1. A combined lid prop and locking hinge device for a cabinet having an interior structure disposed closely adjacent the lid when the latter is closed, as in an upright piano, comprising, a knuckle hinge having a fixed leaf adaptedto be secured to the top of said structure and the latter being recessed at the end of and subjacent said leaf forniing an inclined prop shoulder, said knuckle hinge having a lid leaf adapted to be secured to the lower face of said lid, and a prop leaf'having one end "thereof in hinged connection with the free end of said lid leaf and the remaining end of said prop leaf being bent to form a combined lid prop and locking or holding lug and the lower or outer face of said lug being adapted to abut against said prop shoulder to support said lid in a predetermined open position and the remaining face of said'lug being adapted to engage the exposed or free end edge of said fixed leaf to lock said lid against movement beyond such predetermined open position, said prop leaf being adapted to lie substantially in the plane of said lid leaf and between said structure and lid when thelatter is closed.

2. The combination with a cabinet body having a hinged device and companion shoulders, of a lid for said body, said hinged device having'a leaf fixed to said lid and a leaf fixed to said body, and a gravity acting prop leaf hinged to said lid leaf and having a combined prop and holding lug adapted to move by gravity downwardly into coacting relation between said companion shoulders, as said lid is being lifted, to lock said lid against movement in either direction from its propped position.

3. The combination with a cabinet body having a hinge device and a lid, said hinge device having a leaf fixed to said lid and a leaf fixed to said body, and a gravity acting prop leaf hinged to said lid leaf and adapted to lie substantially in the plane of said lid leaf and in end to end relation thereto between said body and lid when the latter is closed, and said body being equipped with means for automatic coaction with said gravity acting prop leaf while said lid is being lifted to an open position to lock said lid against movement in either direction from a propped position.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I hereby affix my signature.

VINSON H. BROWN. 

